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By ELIZABETH MIAE
TENSIONS were high in parts of Badili and
Koki, Port Moresby yesterday morning as two ethnic groups from Wanigela
and Goilala clashed following the alleged killing of two men following a
fight near the market bus stop on Sunday night.
Business houses were forced to close for half a day and motorists were
directed by police away from the area.
NCD police are now investigating the death of two youths from Wanigela
village that resulted in the clash, which started on Sunday evening and
continued to yesterday morning.
The riot was triggered by a scuffle at the Koki bus stop between the
Wanigela and Goilala youths who were reportedly under the influence of
liquor.
Eyewitnesses said the youths’ confrontation led to the stabbing death of
the youth from Gulf province.
The victim, who was stabbed in his abdomen, was taken to the hospital
but died later. His body was taken to his village.
Eyewitnesses said the Wanigelas retaliated by blocking off the roads at
Badili and Kaugere and harassed the general public.
When police arrived to investigate, they were then attacked by the
youths.
NCD/Central division commander Alfred Reu reported the situation
worsened overnight and police reinforcements were called in yesterday
morning to stop the fighting.
Mr Reu confirmed that a shooting incident had ta-ken place earlier in
the morning which left one youth from Wanigela dead.
He said they were trying to establish who shot the youth.
Mr Reu said police rounded up all the Wanigelas and hauled them off to
their village where they tried to resolve the matter.
However, during the meeting, the body of the youth who was shot was
brought into the village, angering the residents who then attacked the
police.
The villagers also destroyed a vehicle belonging to the director of
community policing.
Mr Reu appealed to the Wanigelas to let justice take its course instead
of taking the law into their own hands.
An eyewitness said people working in the area had complained of nearly
being hit by shots fired by police to control the two groups.
The eyewitness claimed the shots were allegedly fired through the
Salvation Army office which almost hit one of its staff who was taking
cover inside the building.
At lunch time yesterday, the roads at Badili, Koki and Kaugere were
reopened to traffic and business houses resumed operations.
Police are still monitoring the area although the situation remained
tense.
Eyewitnesses also said there were gun shots fired between the warring
tribes until the police arrived at the scene at about 8.30am to disperse
the fighters.
Relatives of one of the victims claimed it was during the encounter with
the police in Badili that the second Wanigela man was shot and killed.
He was identified and said to be in his late 30s, and father of four.
The other victim, who was not immediately identified, was in his late
20s.
 
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